NOTD: Tippex Fingers

Since the trend of having white nails started sometime last year, I'd been tempted to try it out after deciding that it did actually look quite cool.  At first it just reminded me of painting my nails with Tippex when I was in primary school!

However I didn't get round to actually picking one up until recently.  I came across this one in the Topshop sale for £3 and it's more of an off-white which I feel is a good way to get me used to having white nails!  It's more warm and creamy so it isn't as harsh as plain white.  I think it will be good as a base for other nail polishes as well which will be handy.

This shade is called Blank but it may be discontinued seeing as it was in the reduced section.

<3

January Shopping Purchases!

Due to work, seeing family and generally just wanting to avoid January sales chaos, I didn't go shopping until the 9th of January.  I'm not a big fan of sales and would quite happily just look at all the new things instead of trying to hunt down a bargain.  However I do work in a shop which makes it much easier to pick out bargains and the first few two are as such!

I needed a new lunch bag to take to work as I'd had my other one for years and it was getting really tatty.  This is one of Ted Baker's mini shoppers which are £29 RRP but I ended up getting it for about £15 due to various discounts.  £15 is still a ridiculous amount to pay for a lunch bag but I really like it and it's very sturdy so it should last a long time hopefully!

I'm long overdue sorting out all my jewellery and having a big clear out so I bought some Stackers which are really handy jewellery boxes.  They come in different layouts so you just buy whatever you need.  These 3 would have cost £52 but in the sale with discounts it was only about £18!  As you can see I've already started sorting my earrings in the 2nd section, I can't wait to have everything organised.

These items I got using various gift cards I'd accumulated since my birthday and Christmas:

New Look - £12.99

New Look - £9.99 (edit: I actually had to return this as the back isn't lined!)

Topshop Joni Jeans - £36

New Look Necklace - sale £4

Topshop Nail Varnish in Venus Flytrap - £5

Topshop Nail Varnish in Blank - sale £3

I love La Senza pants but I only buy them in sale when they go down to £2, such a bargain!  Although they had a pretty rubbish selection this time sadly :(

I also went into Lush because between my boyfriend and his dad I have £30 to spend in there!  I'm hoping to make it last as long as possible!  I got 2 new items I've never tried before.  They are both vegan.

Blackberry Bath Bomb - £2.95

Figs and Leaves Soap - £3.40/100g

Finally I went into Paperchase as I was really needing a new diary and picked up this cute little one for £5 which I think is pretty good!

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The Lipstick Tag

I was tagged by Hayley!  I tag anyone reading this to do it, if you already have feel free to leave your link below in a comment :)

How many lipsticks do you own?

17 including stains and lip tars.

What was your first ever lipstick?
The first lipstick I can remember was a 17 one I got for Christmas, it was a sort of browny colour and I only wore it once. To school. Why, Louise?? It really wasn't pretty!

What is your most worn lipstick?
Ahh that is really difficult actually! I think Topshop Infrared, I love orange lips!

What is your favourite brand?
Probably Topshop but I only have 2 of theirs.  MUA are good too especially for the price.

What is your favourite finish?
A sort of creamy finish probably, not too matte as my lips get very dry but not too glossy.

What was the last lip product you bought?
I honestly can't even remember!  I've not bought one in ages, Topshop Inhibition maybe?

How many glosses and balms do you currently have in your handbag?
I just have one lip balm, I rarely carry make up with me!

What lipstick do you wear to rock a red lip?
Lime Crime Red Velvet, uch so pretty!  See this post for swatches!

How do you store your lipsticks?
I store them in a jewellery box on the windowsill in my bathroom.  I did a lipstick storage and collection post which you can see here.

What lip products are you constantly lusting after?
I really want to try some of Lime Crimes lipsticks, they have some great colours.

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1920s Themed Murder Mystery

On Saturday night I went to one of my close friends Emma's Hen Do, there was also a day part to it but unfortunately I was working so I just met everyone else later on.  The evening section was a Murder Mystery set in the 1920s so we all hard to dress up accordingly.  There were 4 actors, a 3 course meal and lots of audience interaction, so all in all it was a good night!  I finished work just after 4 so I had plenty of time to get ready - I planned to go all out with the dressing up!  I thought I would share with you my clothes and make up from the night:

Make Up

Eyes Lightest shade from Sleek Storm palette all over lid up to brows, Urban Decay Gunmetal in the crease and Creep in the very outer crease.  On lower lash line Creep, Gunmetal then Sleek shade going from outside to inner corner.  Black eyeliner on waterline & black mascara on upper & lower lashes.

Brows Liz Earle Brow Pencil in Dark

Base  Illamasqua Skin Base in Shade 02 & Bourjois Healthy Mix in Shade 51

Concealer MUA Pro Conceal & Brighten Kit

Powder ELF Translucent Setting Powder

Cheeks Nars Lovejoy Blusher

Lips Topshop Inhibition

Costume

Flapper Dress Fancy Dress website from years ago 

Beads Found in an old jewellery box!

Coat Vero Moda

Hat Dickens & Jones

Shoes Next

~

I actually had heated rollers in for a good hour would you believe - my hair hates me!!  Luckily I didn't have to buy anything for this as I already owned everything!  I hope you enjoyed this more lifestyle themed post, I wish I had a better photo of my make up.  I am going to be having a blog sale within the next week, just swithering whether to put it up before or after IMATS, hmm, we shall see!

<3

Illamasqua Nail Varnish 'Haul' with Swatches

So remember I said I wasn't going to buy any more nail varnishes until I completed my nail varnish challenge?  Well, I lied.  It was an offer I couldn't resist!!

 

In case you hadn't noticed, over the Easter Weekend, Illamasqua carried out an 'Easter Hunt' game on their website where each day certain colours would be up to 50% off.  I really wanted them to do blushers but unfortunately they only did eyeshadows, nail varnish, pure pigments and lipsticks.  I took advantage of the nail varnish and pigment offers getting Hemlock (shown above) and Beguile.  I also really wanted (full price of course!) Pink Raindrops so I stuck that in the basket too!  Luckily I get student discount so I didn't pay full price for any items and paid just over £25 for the 3 bits - with free delivery.

I've never tried nail varnishes from Illamasqua before so I wasn't sure what they would be like.  I still haven't tried them on my nails yet but below are swatches of them both on a nail wheel.  I was a bit disappointed by Pink Raindrops to be honest, but maybe the sparkles will come to life with a top coat.  Hemlock is really pretty but obviously very sheer - I used two coats for each colour.  After first use I decided I hate the packaging!!  When I tighten up the square lids, they don't sit on straight and it makes me irrationally angry!  I love the Butter London packaging cos the lid comes off and there's a separate one underneath so the square lid always sits neatly - I think Illamasqua should consider that idea!

Just for fun I picked out a few colours I thought might look good with Hemlock on top, and I also put it over some of the ones which were already on the wheel so have a look below for those:

Nail Varnishes used in the first post were:

Nails Inc - The Southbank
Topshop - Hidden Treasure
Barry M - Silvery Lilac
Ciate - Skinny Jeans
Nails Inc - Haymarket

The other colours are from the neon Clubworks set I got for christmas.

I think it looks nice over the Ciate one, and the greens, orange and pink neon colours!  It adds an extra depth to the colour.

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A Rare Clothes Haul

I actually can't remember the last time I bought clothes! I've been buying quite a lot of dresses and things recently (by recently I still mean last year!) but casual clothes, nope. Which is quite stupid considering I'm not going to wear party dresses every day... Although because of work and college I wear black four days a week, then probably pyjamas another 2 days so I actually don't need that many to be honest, but I just get so bored of wearing the same things over and over.

I'm looking forward to doing a big massive wardrobe spring clean but I thought I should buy some more clothes first so I don't end up with nothing!

Primark - £10

Primark - £12

Primark - £5

Topshop - £16

(£14.40 with 10% student discount)

I thought the black top would be good for work with a wee strappy top under it as I always wear the most boring clothes to work, and the skirt will be good for both work and college.

It really annoys me that everything in Primark is so sheer!  But what can you expect really for the price!!

Have you bought any nice clothes recently?

<3

Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Boost

I've had my eye on this lipgloss ever since it first came out in the Generation Q collection but as it was £14 and I'm not a huge lipgloss fan I decided to leave it.  However just before Christmas Illamasqua were offering 40% off full price items to make up students (it's usually 20%) so I just decided to get it as I probably won't get that opportunity again for a while! I also got the blusher in Kiss which I will be doing a post on too (when I can get a decent picture of it on my face!) and a medium pencil in Spell which is a bright pillar box red.  This cheeky wee discount brought the price down to £8.40 which isn't too bad although still pricey for a lipgloss!

The lipgloss is stunning, according to Illamasqua it's 'blueberry violet', but to be more exact it's a light purple with a shimmery blue duochrome to it.  Alone it isn't too opaque but it is still noticeable and looks really unusual, but over a purple lipstick it looks amazing.

I like that it comes with a brush rather than those ridiculous squeezy tubes or doe foot applicators, but I think that I got a dodgy one because it seems to have a bit of plastic sticking out from the bristles which isn't great!  It's only tiny but still annoying.

Onto the swatches!  Apologies for my gross dry lips... I tried to pick the best one out of a bad bunch haha!  In the bottom two I have applied it over Topshop Inhibition which is a combination I absolutely love!

Bare lips for comparison

<3

OOTN: Ashleigh's 21st Dinner

Dress - Topshop

Blazer - H&M

Necklace - Primark (current)

Wedges - New Look

If you've followed me from the beginning you'll know that fashion is not something I am an avid follower of!  However if I do wear something I think is quite nice (and if I have time!) I like to share it on here.  These photos were taken at the end of the night when I got home - hence flat hair and scabby lips!  

We had gone to an Italian restaurant called Il Pavone in Princes Square, Glasgow, for dinner which was really good!  We were supposed to be going out after but unfortunately poor Ashleigh has a bronchial infection so we decided to postpone it for another night when she's feeling healthier!

I'm not going to go into a lot of detail of the makeup as I didn't take any close ups of the eyes or anything but here is my face via instagram (LooweezBx) haha!  As you can see my hair was curly when I left the house :(

Base - Benefit Healthy Mix in 51 + Illamasqua Skin Base S03, 

Mac Studio Finish Concealer in NW20 (not CF)

Blusher - Neve Noblesse

Eyes - Nars Paramaribo duo, Nars Albatross, black gel liner, 

Clinique High Lengths mascara sample (not CF)

Eyebrows - Une Brow Pencil B04

Lips (see first photo) - Topshop Inhibition 

<3

NOTD: Candy Sprinkles

I've had this nail combination envisioned in my head for ages!  On the nail I still really like it, although Models Own Disco Mix is definitely not my favourite glitter, it's so sparse :(  For the base I used Topshop Milkshake which I love!

Any recommendations for a good multi-coloured glitter which isn't as sparse as this one??

<3

Collection: Lipsticks & Storage

I wasn't happy with my lipstick storage which was basically them all just shoved in a box in a drawer and not very easy to reach for!  However I got a beautiful mirrored jewellery box for my birthday but as I have loads of jewellery boxes already, I decided to use it for my lipsticks!

This is where it sits usually as I keep all my makeup in my bathroom (weird? normal?), but for ease of taking clear photos I moved it to my hall!

In the top I have my purples.  Sadly I only have 3 - plenty of room for more!!  Also because there is space, my Lipcote is in here as well.

In the middle drawer are my pinks.

And in the last drawer are my orange/reds.

So that is my lipstick collection!  Pretty small but growing, I've only recently got into lipsticks and even then I only wear them on nights out/special occasions!  I am going to do a 'most used lip products' post too as I keep those in a separate, more accessible place.

Out of these, the following are not cruelty free: Avon, Lipcote (unknown), MAC and Revlon.

 <3